Fight Fax Rises Strong as the UK-Based Site Loses Support from Global Boxing Giants
Isaac Guerra
In a surprising turn of events that is shaking up the boxing world, Fight Fax has emerged as a transformative force in the management of fighters’ records, challenging the long-standing dominance of BoxRec, which for years served as the primary reference in this domain. This shift in power is being driven by the crucial backing of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and could have even greater implications if other key organisations join the movement.
First, the World Boxing Council (WBC) severed ties with BoxRec, marking a significant change in the power dynamics of boxing. This governing body no longer recognises BoxRec as the official platform for recording fights, and to date, there have been no indications that the collaboration will resume. WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán was emphatic in his statements regarding the situation with BoxRec:
«BoxRec simply lost its way from what it once was and is now acting on its own behalf, seeking its own benefit. They make arbitrary decisions on whether to upload fight cards or not, and this has become a recurring problem over the past five years. Boxing commissions, promoters from Mexico, Nicaragua, Argentina, Italy, Poland… have faced many situations where BoxRec decides not to register the result of a fight card,» Sulaimán stated.
Sulaimán warned of the severe consequences of this practice: «It’s very dangerous because if a boxer is knocked out, it must be recorded as a knockout with a suspension. But if someone visits BoxRec and sees that this boxer has no knockouts, they could schedule them to fight two or three weeks later, and they could suffer a serious accident. This has already happened.» This comment underscores the potentially harmful impact of BoxRec’s arbitrary decisions on fighters’ safety.
The next blow to BoxRec came during the WBA convention in Vietnam, where the organisation announced its support for Fight Fax. This move triggered an aggressive response from BoxRec, which decided to withdraw its recognition of the WBA amid rising tensions. According to reports from World Boxing News, BoxRec deleted all records related to the WBA, affecting the visibility of hundreds of fights sanctioned by this entity. The WBA has suffered a loss of credibility in recent years, particularly regarding the sanctioning of «interim» title fights.
The impact of this restructuring is significant. The WBA and WBC are two of the four major boxing organisations globally, and their disassociation from BoxRec is a considerable blow to the platform. Moreover, the International Boxing Association (IBA), which also organises professional and amateur events, has severed ties with BoxRec. This scenario suggests a potential crisis for BoxRec if other organisations, such as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF), follow the example set by the WBA and WBC.
On the other hand, Fight Fax, which for years set the standard in fight recording before the death of its founder Aníbal Miramontes, is regaining its relevance. The platform has reinvented itself with an updated approach, community-based input, and an anti-fraud system to ensure record accuracy. The recent WBA convention showcased the platform’s commitment to transparency and reliability in documenting fight results.
Mexico, which has struggled with the difficulties imposed by BoxRec’s requirements, now sees renewed hope in Fight Fax. This change could simplify the way Mexican fighters’ bouts are recorded, restoring a platform that has historically handled these records without objection.
As these developments unfold, the possibility that the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) in the United States might also reconsider its relationship with BoxRec and return to Fight Fax could further solidify Fight Fax’s position as the new giant in the boxing world. The evolution in fight recording marks the beginning of a new era, where accuracy, transparency, and fairness take centre stage.
